Tunnel Marathon 2022 Recap/Review

[@maryarnez3730]

Thanks for all the info!! Will toe the line Sunday!! Had to modify training due to new medical issues but hoping to still finish 4:30 at my hbd age of 60 this year!! 🙏🏽

[@erxsvn]

Thanks for all the info! I’m looking to possibly do this race with my sister in August 2023. It would be her first and my 4th marathon. We’re slow runners, though, so we’d elect the early start. Congrats on the Boston qualifier!! 💪💪💪

[@RunWithJ]

Thanks Eric. Its a fast course without any spectators or a ton of runners which can be a good thing. The views are amazing though.

[@massive_droner]

Great video! I might do this as my first marathon in the fall. How was your recovery in the days after the race? If I did it I’d also be exploring some of the national parks in that region and would ideally want to do some light hiking

[@aheibamluxmibai2]

Congratulations I will try next year 🙏

[@bobbyflynn514]

Ran next to you in the pack until mile 16 or so. I’m about 42 years old, 25 lbs overweight, coming off a broken leg in February. So I was way undertrained. Still BQ’d with a 3:07. It’s a fast race.

[@RunWithJ]

Fast race for sure but strangely you don't really feel it since it's so gradual. Met so many amazing runners in that race that i connect with on Strava. Congrats on a super time even with the broken leg and such. Regardless it's an amazing accomplishment~

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

You kill me bobby.....I broke my leg...and im overweight and still BQed

[@costco888]

Crystal clear! thx!

[@FBTL1218]

Great information on this race, I am glad to hear that the downhill is gradual and not steep. The last downhill I did had very steep areas and my legs were thrashed at mile 22 and was barely able to finish and did not BQ. Great information.

[@RunWithJ]

Thanks Michael. Yes I’ve done a revel race where it was very steep downhill at points and I had the same situation happen where my legs just couldn’t function around the end and I didn’t get my time. Tunnel was much more gradual.

[@FBTL1218]

@@RunWithJ Thanks for the insight, so it seems like this is a good race for me, let me see if the $$$ workout. I am from SoCal. Flights are crazy.

[@RunWithJ]

Yeah I hear ya. I’m on the east coast and flying to Seattle is never cheap but for a great chance to PR or BQ it was worth it for me.

[@danv4253]

Hey, J! Congrats on a great race! A PR and Boston Qualifier, great job!! Sounds like it was a fun and unique experience. Thanks for sharing!!

[@RunWithJ]

Thanks Dan! Yea it was a great time. Super excited about the result. Now just crossing my fingers for the Boston cutoff time.

[@illawgical]

What was the pace you intended to run? I’m running the Tunnel Marathon in June. I’ve been trying to gauge my expectations to see where I’m at and how much I can push and possibly get a sub 3 here. But the main goal is the BQ of course.

[@RunWithJ]

3:05 was the goal so I planned around 645. The downhill definitely made it easier to keep the pace but mentally I didn’t feel it because it was gradual elevation loss.

[@illawgical]

@@RunWithJ thanks for your tips on this video! I ran the tunnel marathon last Sunday and was able to BQ with a time of 2:59:24! More than enough buffer I think for my 3:10:00 qualifying time!

[@RunWithJ]

Awesome! Congrats. I’m glad you had a successful trip. No better feeling

[@tommysiharath6988]

Congratulations on the PR!

[@RunWithJ]

Thank you Tommy!

[@FBTL1218]

I hear you @runwithj. I will keep you posted on my progress. I have run this year 5 marathons trying to BQ and the races are becoming scarce for 2024, if I get in. When you BQ'd did you get to race the next year or did you have to wait one more year?

[@RunWithJ]

I bqd in June 2022 and was able to run Boston this year in April 2023.

[@maryarnez3730]

You need to BQ before Mid Sept….that’s when the registration is for Boston for the next year…..I believe this one in sept is right before the registration…..but running too many marathons in hope of qual can really eat up your body….better to recover fully and then plow ahead! Most good runners I know do marathons 6 months apart! I’m from CA and the CIM is Dec 6 So it’s been 6 months since that one and I will be at Tunnels Sunday! Having Med issues so just hoping to do bette than CIM…..did Boston 3x in early 2000’s…..then got on the Tri track so lost a lot on running….coming back slowly! Good luck to you!!

[@clayscloset2618]

Did you find a race and were able to bq and get to run Boston next month? I’ve done tunnel four times from 2016-18 and was my last marathon. Thinking September of this year will be my comeback.

[@amievetter7073]

Great information, thank you! When you noticed you were :30 faster than goal pace did you adjust and slow down or ride it out (thinking it was advantage from the downhill)? I am running it this weekend and trying to think through potential scenarios.

[@maryarnez3730]

Running over 20 marathons really know your body….the race doesn’t start until mile 20….so go with what you know you can maintain (perhaps based on a few half marathon races) then you can push forward at the end….I want to write a book “race slower to finish faster”…..as some of my athlete friends try to ride that fast wave….until they just can’t with 5-6 miles to go! Hope that helps!! Have a great run and I will be out there as well!

[@RunWithJ]

Hope your race went well!

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

To answer the question can you get an UBER at the finish? I tried to schedule an UBER from the finish and it would not let me, it said we dont service that area. If you go onto UBER and type in either school on the finish (and destination of the start) it says numerous cars available. When I actually finished the race and got to the school panic set in because I requested a ride back to the start and it took 3-4 minutes till someone filled the ride. He was 15 minutes away and then eventually canceled the ride. I was panicking, and tried it again. This time I called the driver as soon as he took the ride and told him I had no other way to get to the start or I would be abolsutely stranded. I told him I would give him a nice tip and did give him a $30 tip for a $55 ride. I have to admit, rolling out of bed to the start line was worth every cent and then some but have a valid backup plan. .

[@RunWithJ]

Wow what an adventure. Glad you made it though.

[@aaronoplinger5971]

Where did you stay that was so close to the start?

[@RunWithJ]

I stayed at the Bellevue residence inn Marriott which was 20 min away from the bus pickup to the start. Not the actual start. In the morning there were no traffic so it was pretty easy commute

[@JasonTreu]

Congrats on the great time. This race is one I’ve looked at. How did you manage your race? Use a pace band? I’ve known people that went too fast and paid a price on the second half of the race.

[@RunWithJ]

I didn’t use a pace band. Just my watch every know on then to see how I’m doing. I knew I had to be around certain pace for mile so I always made sure I was around there and adjust if I need to. I have definitely paid the price in my previous marathon so I was more prepared for the last 10k.

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

Also either you or the website is incorrect. I think you meant you can drive to the start, but you said you can drive to the finish, the website says there is no parking at the finish.

[@RunWithJ]

That’s an error if I said that. The finish line is at an opening of a trail by an open road so there’s really no parking available and police is all over the area. I think I meant spectators can get bussed there to the finish if they park at a school parking lot which they specify in the emails they send weeks before the race. It pretty much tells you everything you need to know.

[@christiankolom9985]

Do you recommend carrying hydration?

[@RunWithJ]

You can but I did not have any issues with what they provided there. It was mostly Gatorade and water but I did wish there were stations in every mile. The map of the course tells you which ones have stations.

[@bidulnarayanan2616]

Do they have 3:00 hr pacers..?

[@RunWithJ]

I believe the fastest was 3:30 pacers when I did it.

[@tarahyde5899]

If I’m bringing someone with me will I need to worry about bussing or checking a bag?

[@RunWithJ]

If they are dropping you off and picking you up no. They can drive to the parking lot to drop you off and pick you up by the finish but it’ll be heavily barricaded so you might need to walk a little. They won’t be able to get on the bus shuttle from the elementary school parking lot.

[@jdbenavides5334]

What shoes did you wear? Will VaporFly Next% 2s hold up?

[@RunWithJ]

I used the alphaflys and it held up fine. Just tiny rocks got in which was a little annoying since you’re running on gravel but nothing I couldn’t run with. I saw many people with the Vaporflys.

[@jdbenavides5334]

@@RunWithJ Thanks and extremely informative Vid. I’ll be doing the tunnel this September 🙏🏼

[@RunWithJ]

Awesome! Good luck. Just treat this like a regular marathon except with a constant downhill that you can barely feel. You’ll be going a lot faster than you think at most times. The last 3-4 miles of actual downhill was great to finish the race

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

How hard would it be to get a UBER to the start or from the finish? Im trying to figure out where to stay and see if it is possible to stay close to the start.

[@RunWithJ]

You can Uber to the start line. It’s essentially a empty parking lot near the start of trails. The finish line is right next to an open road. The closest name brand hotel is about 10-15 min away. I didn’t check air bnb but I stayed in belluve and was a 20 min drive

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

@@RunWithJ I guess my question is, can you get an uber at 7am in that area? I know Ive run some Revel Races Like Mt. Charleston and Big Bear and I doubt you could find an uber to go to the start.

[@RunWithJ]

Honestly i wouldn't be able to give you a right response since i never thought of taking an uber. I planning to drive from the start although car rentals are expensive there. I would check for ubers on a normal day from the app as an expereiment but it might be really rare or expensive. It could be a little better if you're close to a suburb or city.

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

@@RunWithJ I care about 2 things. Getting to the start easily, And possibly ubering back from the start. I dont like getting up 1.5 hours early to take a bus to the start. I stayed on the start line for the Mt. Charleston and it was great!

[@michaelgerhardt7130]

Who is running September 18? Did you do a lot of downhill training?

[@RunWithJ]

If I didn’t have Berlin I would probably run again to try to get sub 3. I did do alot of downhill workouts and running declined on the treadmill.

[@Laver1969]

I’m running the Sept race!

[@RunWithJ]

Good luck! It’s a great race. I would definitely do it again

[@rufus8523]

p̲r̲o̲m̲o̲s̲m̲ 🙏